Are you a passionate community member with a knack for connecting with others? Or simply someone with a decent amount of life and work experience looking for a way to give back? Mentoring could be the ideal volunteering opportunity for you, allowing you to make a real difference in the lives of others.

Different types of mentoring experiences

Depending on your skills, experience and goals, there are a few different types of mentoring opportunities you can choose from.

• Youth mentoring: The demand for youth mentoring is at an all-time high, with many young people lacking role models, and experience stress related to their mental health, schooling, family situations and more. As a youth mentor, you could help provide driving lessons for teenagers, support them with landing their first job, or help them navigate challenging life circumstances just by talking and listening. The value you can bring is enormous, potentially helping kids get on the right path towards a brighter future.

• Adult mentoring: Adult mentees are usually looking for career support, which could be a great professional development opportunity for you as a mentor as well. Working with adults looking to advance their careers, you may find yourself running mock interviews, reviewing resumes, helping mentees set professional goals or assisting individuals with low digital literacy to navigate the modern work environment. If you’ve wanted to tap into your industry knowledge and career experience, mentoring other adults could be the perfect avenue.

• CALD mentoring: A niche area of mentoring to consider is working with new migrants or people from culturally or linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. As a mentor, you can bring a lot of value to the lives of these mentees, from practicing their English speaking skills to helping them integrate into their new local community. Although many people have high skill levels, they can experience challenges landing that first job in a few country. Your guidance and local knowledge could be the one thing that helps them land on their feet. And of course, if you happen to speak another language, this could be useful for helping mentees who speak the same language.

Why mentoring could be perfect for you

Ask anyone who has mentored, and you’ll find that the experience is often just as enriching for the mentor as it is for the mentee.

• Develop your skills and experience: Mentoring is a great way to put your skills to the test. From working on your communication and confidence to developing your leadership skills, mentoring can really boost your experience. Plus, you’ll interact with people from diverse walks of life, giving you priceless perspectives that can bolster the rest of your career.

• Become an industry leader: With a history of mentoring, you can really raise your profile in your industry. By volunteering your time, you show your commitment to supporting the next generation of professionals and position yourself as a loyal industry leader.

• Learning that goes both ways: Mentees aren’t the only ones who benefit from being part of a mentoring program - mentors also have a whole lot to gain from the experience. The role can sometimes be challenging, meaning you’ll develop your patience and resilience. You’ll also learn from other's experiences and perspectives, enriching your worldview and perhaps changing the way you approach things in your career or life.

If you’re a caring person, with a bit of life and work experience that you would like to share with others, mentoring could be the perfect volunteering option for you. Start your search for mentoring volunteer opportunities now.